The Defense Declarations represent an executive mandate issued by Mon Mothma, who served as Chief of State for the New Republic. This order effectively transferred authority over the Planetary Security Forces from the central government back to the individual sector governments. While New Republic members were still expected to contribute to the New Republic Defense Force, they gained the autonomy to manage their own planetary defense forces, now with greater capabilities than permitted under either the Galactic Republic or the Galactic Empire.
The enactment of this order was deemed illegitimate by Imperial loyalist sectors. Conversely, certain sectors that were previously undecided chose to align themselves with the New Republic. In several sectors, allegiances became deeply fractured, resulting in numerous conflicts among opposing Imperial task forces. These internal clashes further weakened the Empire's capacity for warfare. Admiral Gial Ackbar later acknowledged that this policy decision brought more planets into the New Republic fold than could have been achieved through numerous military operations.